EVOCATIVE STYLE
Watchmaking and cars have much in common. So when two prestigious brands work together, the aesthetic and mechanic performances are all present and correct.
Zenith began its partnership with Land Rover three years ago. The happy collaboration is based on a shared taste for design and cutting-edge technique. After the Chronomaster El Primero Range Rover Velar, launched in 2017, the brand has just released the Defy Classic Range Rover Special Edition with a limited edition of 200 pieces. Like for the first model, the stylistic features of the watch echo elements in a Range Rover car, in this case, the Evoque. So the second hand and the rotor come in turquoise blue, a colour found on the steering wheel and seats of the SUV. The architecture of the skeletoned dial evokes the sculptural design of the wheel rims. The “diamond“ pattern on the car’s padded upholstery makes an appearance on the rubber watch strap.
In this embossed structure, the hour and minute hands make their way around lume-coated hour markers to provide great visibility in all lighting conditions. A date counter at 6 o’clock rounds off the time elements.
The calibre Elite 670 SK hums away in a 41mm-wide brushed titanium case. The automatic movement gives the watch a minimum autonomy of 48 hours. It also has a silicon anchor and escapement, so that it is little affected by magnetic fields. The sapphire caseback gives another point of view on the mechanism, especially on the blued, star-shaped rotor.
Price: 7,500 CHF zenith.com
By Dan Diaconu